Accident on 35th- Please Help!

[scdodson]

At 4:45P tonight, a truck ran me into a parked car on 35th Ave SW, North of Thistle, just south of Kenyon Hall/dry cleaners/video tech. I was heading northbound in the right hand lane when the truck in the left lane changed lanes and nearly swerved into my car. I’m assuming he just didn’t see me. It was a pretty large, commercial type truck—not a “box truck/cube van” but more like a “high-walled” flat-bed with a big steel gate in back. My only options were to be sideswiped or to move over and brake, which I did to the best of my abilities, honking my horn as quickly as I could. It all happened suddenly and before the truck reacted to my honking and swerved back into its lane, I was forced far enough to the right that I struck a car parked on 35th.

The good news is that no one was injured, and though probably costly, the damage to the parked car seems to be largely cosmetic (a bumper and paint most likely). Luckily I wasn’t moving very fast at the point of impact. I was able to slow down some, and if the truck had reacted a little quicker, I would have been able to pop back into my lane and narrowly miss the car, but it didn’t.

I called the police, they took a report, and I met and exchanged insurance info with the owner of the parked car. So that part is taken care of. Unfortunately, the damage to my car was pretty substantial and though I drove it the six blocks home, it’s not really drivable anymore. I don’t know what the bluebook on a ’94 Jetta is but I imagine it’s not much and so it’s likely the insurance co will “total” it and I’ll be out a working car with a small check to show for it, after my deductible is taken out by my insurance co. :(

Here’s where I’m hoping the West Seattle Blog readers can help… I expected the truck to stop, since it caused the accident, but it didn’t. At this point I’m certainly willing to give the driver the benefit of a doubt. Conditions were pretty miserable- dark and rainy. It’s possible he didn’t realize what he did, or that I had hit the parked car, so the “run” part of a “hit and run” may not apply. And his or her actions, while precipitous, certainly weren’t intentional. As unlikely as it is, I’m hoping that the driver or someone connected to the driver will see this post, and that he’ll come forward to do the right thing: take responsibility for the accident he (or she) caused and let his (or her) insurance take care of it.

If that doesn’t happen, the next best thing would be for someone who happened to have seen the accident, or the truck as it left the scene to come forward. If anyone reading was travelling on 35th, or know someone who travels that route at that time, I’d be grateful if you contacted me.

I was in such distress at the moment it happened that I flagged down another driver and she actually let me hop in her car and we tried to catch up with the truck to flag down the driver. Unfortunately it was nowhere to be seen once we crested the hill past the water towers and by the time we returned, any possible witnesses had left. In retrospect I should have stayed with my car because I think a car or two had stopped to offer assistance or to bear witness, but after feeling like I was nearly killed or seriously injured, I was shaken up and totally focused on the truck that I could still see (at that point) heading up 35th. Again, it’s a long shot, but perhaps the drivers or passengers in one of the vehicles that stopped read this blog and got a plate number or better description?

Thank you for reading and my huge thanks in advance to anyone who has any information at all. Suffice it to say, losing my car is a major blow. If the other drivers insurance could at least take responsibility for the accident, it would save my deductible which would make a huge difference right now.

And finally, if anyone has a safe (I drive my 6 and 9 yr. old around), functional vehicle they want to sell, feel free to contact me about that too!

Sincerely,

Scott

scdodson@comcast.net

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[swimcat]

Dang- what a bummer! I don’t have any information about this truck for you, but I really feel for you. And if this had happened a few months ago I could have sold you my super reliable 1996 Honda Civic for a great price but I sold it already… I’m impressed with your attitude about this- I’d probably sound a bit angrier! Hope you catch the guy so you don’t have to pay your deductible.

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[velo_nut]

I live fairly close to that area and will keep a look out for that vehicle.

35th is scary… good to know that YOU are in good shape though.

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[Dunno]

First thing that came to my mind was that maybe the camera at 35th and Thistle video would help???

Good luck!

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[flowerpetal]

The site of this accident is too far away from the traffic light cameras at 35th and Thistle. Also, those cameras, both still and video, only operate when someone has run the red light.

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